Male fern
Dryopteris filix-mas
🐱Cat no data🐶Dog no data
Shady north balcony
Foliage colour, ferns, shade bloomers
Little direct sun, a cooler microclimate – ideal for foliage colour and shade-loving bloomers.
☀️Light0–3 h direct sun
💧HumidityOutdoor
🌡️TemperatureCooler; hardy perennials
🪴Water & substrateLess than in sun – finger test
Build
Step by step
- 1
Bring in light with pale pots and variegated leaves.
- 2
Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with leaf mould.
- 3
Layer: fern at the back, hosta in the middle, busy Lizzie in front.
Plant list
What to plant
Background
Midground
Hosta
Hosta
🐱Cat mild🐶Dog mild
Astilbe
Astilbe
🐱Cat safe🐶Dog safe
Foreground
Coral bells
Heuchera
🐱Cat safe🐶Dog safe
Busy Lizzie
Impatiens walleriana
🐱Cat safe🐶Dog safe
Dalmatian bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana
🐱Cat safe🐶Dog safe
Climber, trailer
Common ivy
Hedera helix
🐱Cat mild🐶Dog mild
Accent
Fuchsia
Fuchsia
🐱Cat safe🐶Dog safe
Begonia
Begonia
🐱Cat mild🐶Dog mild
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Sun-lovers (geranium, moss rose) in shade.
- Overwatering – it dries slowly in shade.
Member setups
From the community: Shady north balcony
Nobody has shared one yet. Be the first!